Why Online Sportsbooks are Better Than Brick-and-mortar Ones

Which are better, online sportsbooks or brick-and-mortar ones?

There are various opinions, and even when everyone is entitled to one, that doesn’t answer the question.

In order to finally come with an answer to the previous question, we will be formulating and answering another one.

Which possible advantages and disadvantages do online sportsbooks have in contrast to tangible venues that offer the same services?

Online sportsbooks are pretty much the same as their tangible counterparts; they both offer different types of bets depending on the type of sport, both adjust lines and odds to make them appealing to gamblers to wager on both sides of the bet (adjusting as necessary if one side is getting more action than the other), there are special promotions and bonuses depending on several factors (usually particular dates and events) and both make their money out of the “juice” from bets.

So, if they are so similar, what possible advantages can there be to prefer an online sportsbook over a traditional one?

Online sportsbooks have several advantages, such as:

Comfort

Being able to gamble from home while avoiding having to shower, put clothes, and walk, drive or get a ride to the sportsbook, only to sit in an uncomfortable place while the boisterous environment begins ticking you off, is definitely an advantage.

Different and sometimes better odds

By betting through online sportsbooks, you have the option to investigate different lines and odds offered by different sportsbooks without too much hassle.

No cash

There is no need to be carrying cash around or receiving a large amount of cash if you win. Although this can be a benefit or a drawback – it depends on the individual’s point of view – it benefits the gambler by helping him make immediate deposits and withdrawals electronically (via debit cards, credit cards, payment processors and/or banks).

No taxes

Although illegal, online gambling allows for this to happen. Since these companies don’t have to give any kind of information to the US government (or most Europe countries either since they are located elsewhere), money that comes in through those means can be concealed by the gambler (thus, avoiding taxes).

Do note that this site and partners do not approve or endorse this kind of act – neither do I – and if done, it’s at your own risk.

Can be accessed from any place on the world as long as you can connect to the Internet

You can access your same account and keep on playing regardless of where you are.

Meanwhile, there are also some disadvantages:

No cash

As stated previously, this is both a benefit and a disadvantage depending on the gambler’s point of view.

When gambling at a brick-and-mortar sportsbook you know that you can withdraw your earnings immediately and you’ll receive cash. There are no records in your cards statements that indicate you have been gambling.

On the other hand, online sportsbooks will leave a trace and payment can take some time (a few hours, days, or even weeks).

Security

Although this isn’t much of an issue, there are many who fear making transactions of this type through the Internet. Even if the probability of losing your money due to a security breach, there are other types of security issues that carry a great risk; the most important one being that the FBI can end up messing with your payment processor or the online sportsbook you’re using if found to be dealing with US based clients.

Although, sports-betting is only allowed in Nevada, so unless you go there you’re facing a similar risk anywhere else (even if you’re betting “offline”).

Impersonal

Online sportsbooks are quite impersonal, and even if this is great to make more accurate decisions, it can take a toll on people who need to socialize with others.

Now, from the previous list of points it can be concluded that online sportsbooks aren’t better or worse than tangible ones.

In the end it comes down to a matter of preference, and if you’re betting from somewhere in where sports-betting isn’t allowed, it’ll make no difference whether you bet online or offline as long as you take the proper precautions to leave no apparent trail when receiving money from a bank transfer (or open a bank account in some country that won’t give you bulls**t for gambling online for withdrawals).

Authort’s G+: Seth Miller